Is this a possibility?

[CoffeeCat]

I don't even believe that the debt ceiling is an issue with the Republicans. I think it's
just kabuki theater and peacock grandstanding--playing the big drama to the masses.

The fact is, Republicans have voted, dozens of times, to raise the debt ceiling. This time, they're
using it to create a big storm of conflict and chaos--in order to get what they want.

I am wondering if all the Republicans REALLY want is to preserve the current tax rates and windfalls
for corporations and the millionaires and billionaires. After all, that's the Republican base. Nearly
everyone in the Republican party is beholden to the wealthy corporations and the yacht-owning sect. Their
tax rates must be held!

All of this talk about cutting and adjusting and saving Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. It's total
political suicide for Obama, and he knows it.

Is it possible that we won't see cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid--but we also won't see changes
in the tax rates for the rich? Will Democrats belt out a ginormous sigh of relief as we are told that there
won't be cuts to entitlements, BUT the rich will retain those unfair tax low tax rates? Will a "win" on Social
Security make us forget about the fact that Obama just extended the Bush tax cuts to the Koch Brothers--one more time?

Is it a possibility that all of these shiny objects and fireworks are designed to distract us from
the fact that our Democratic President may, once again, cater to the corporations and the moneyed elite
while average Americans are sinking?

[KittyWampus]

1. There will be no deal. The Republicans are going to push the USA into debt default.

It is going to happen.

[CoffeeCat]

3. Seriously?

I find that incredible interesting, and of course, devastating.

It's sick when we have to sit around wondering what these corrupt freaks
are doing.

The possibilities are endless.

Why do you think they won't raise the debt ceiling? They don't give a shit about
debt. We know that from their outrageous war spending and other spending that has
exploded the national debt and the budgets every year. It's not something that
concerns them. So, why push us into default?

Simply to further destroy the country?

[dixiegrrrrl]

17. It has already been discovered that Cantor has invested in shorting Gov. bonds.

He most surely is not the only one.

Remember that it was discovered someone had placed a HUGE short position in American Airlines stock just before 9-11?

Yes, I have no problem believing their are people in our government who will shove this country down the tubes if they can make money by doing so.
And the TBTF banks CAN make money on a default. That is why they invested in default swaps!

[Dept of Beer]

23. That alone should be considered a trasonable offense.

Arrest his ass.

[OnyxCollie]

28. It follows then,

that we should expect another 9/11.

[dixiegrrrrl]

29. or economic collapse via failure to raise debt ceiling.

And all this BS about raising the ceiling is a ploy.
Everybody but the voters knows that our debt has been too toxic for anyone to buy for months now.
The Fed has been buying up the Treasuries...ie: we hit the debt wall awhile ago.

[Generic Brad]

26. They are doing it in Minnesota

Why not do it at the national level too?

[MADem]

10. I gotta bookmark THAT portentious proclamation. NT

[CoffeeCat]

12. I thought it was pretty bold...

..and you really can't blame anyone for trying to figure out
what these off-the-rail goons are up to.

They're so corrupt and organized in their crimes. We really
have no idea what goes on behind the scenes.

[MADem]

13. Well, I have no personal knowledge, but I think Obama has a way out.

I don't think Boehner does, though.

[sabrina 1]

18. Well, I would force them to do it, and we all know they will not.

This whole game being played is just that, a game to see who can get the most for their Corporate Masters. Whoever does that, wins.

The American people are merely pawns in the game. Unless WE do something to change it.

Anyone watching what has been going on in Europe, cannot fail to see the similarities of what is happening here.

[TBF]

20. Good. Let them fucking do it. It's not like any of us have any more money to lose.

Call the fuckers bluff.

[Dept of Beer]

22. I don't believe that they have the sack for it.

Too much bad economic mojo will fall on them.

[Hugabear]

27. Exactly, then blame the consequences on the Democrats

They'll go into the 2012 campaign saying "See, it's all Obama's fault"

[tridim]

2. They've already stated their goal, to make Obama a one-term president.

They don't care what they destroy along the way to that goal, as long as it is not the super rich.

[lame54]

5. I think that's Obama's goal too

[CoffeeCat]

6. So...they're trying to cajole Obama...

..into a deal in which he agrees to cut entitlements--thus rendering him unelectable?

Is that what you're saying?

[tridim]

8. No, they're trying to take down the economy to fulfill their stated goal.

[Dept of Beer]

24. If I were a sitting president and the opposition party stated this as a goal

and brought the country to its knees then I would make sure that there were enough federal agents on duty to lock up every fucking one of them.

GITMO for all terrorists.

[lame54]

4. NO - it won't make us forget

[MADem]

7. Obama just said he's not doing any Continuing Resolutions on this issue.

He told the Republicans, and everyone involved, for that matter, to eat their peas (code for Grow the F Up and hammer out a deal).

If this doesn't get resolved, the blame is on Bonehead.

[CoffeeCat]

14. The "eat their peas" remark was made to the Dems...

Obama was telling us that we need to do the difficult things (like eating our veggies), even
though we don't like it, but we should because it's good for us.

And of course, we're all little children--eating at the card table while the big boys
at the big dining table settle the important stuff.

We've all been relegated to height chairs at the toddler table.

[MADem]

16. I dispute that assertion.

He was telling EVERYONE who has a role in crafting the legislation (and that is not you, or me) to grow the F up.

So sorry, it has nothing to do with you--it has to do with the guys/gals you sent to Congress with your votes. THAT was his target audience, not you. He's letting you know, via that presser, that he is putting THEM (not you) on notice.

Unless you're a Senator or a Representative (and I doubt you are, otherwise you'd be working this issue and not farting around on the internet), fear not--he wasn't wagging his long lean finger at you.

[erodriguez]

19. +1

[Bluenorthwest]

9. I think it is theater, but why is it always called Kabuki?

It is more like a cheap side show act or a tattered magician's spiel, a wailing aria of lies, a dumb show, a puppet show, a Masque, a charade, a vaudeville routine, Noh theater, but it is most like Grand Guignol.
Sorry, I'm just bored with the 'kabuki' thing. It is like Guignol. Try that one for a while.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Guignol

[MADem]

11. I think it's called Kabuki because most Americans get a gander at

a little bit of Kabuki, and they have no frigging idea what the hell is going on! Anything that seems like something it isn't, and is something they really don't quite "get," gets the moniker as a consequence.

[PATRICK]

15. It seems to be happening that way?

A temporary solution seems to sneaking the Bush tax cuts for the rich back into extended life, screw every else except making the Dems look bad.

[Raine]

21. I think it nothing but theater on BOTH sides

all for the "entertainment" of the masses. In the end both sides know exactly what they will do, IMO. I'm sick to death of this sideshow. :puke:

[CoffeeCat]

25. I think most of this was planned...

...out on that golf course.

They decide, before they hit the masses with their drama, what parts they'll play.

It was the same way with the non-reform healthcare reform bill. They knew damn well how
things were going to go down, even before that bill hit the House floor. The health-insurance
mucky mucks and our politicians met before one word was inked on that bill--and they all
hammered out what would happen, what drama would ensue and what lines the various players
would say.

Like you, I am sick to death of it. It's annoying and boring.

My husband also agrees that all of this drama was a sideshow to create "issues" that
get everyone heated. They had to get us all rankled up about Social Security, so the
debate would be Soc Sec focused; and they had to get the Republicans all focused on the
soaring debt and the possibility of America defaulting.

Otherwise, without those shiny objects--the fact that Obama is extending the Bush tax
cuts--would be front and center. So, now if there are no cuts to Soc Sec, the happy
cross-talk will overshadow the fact that the corporations and the elites are still robbing
us blind, while we experience the Great Recession.